Gamekeeper Podcast

On this episode, we learn about the fascinating catalpa tree and its ability to produce the fine fish bait known as catalpa worms. Where do these trees grow? How do you recognize them, and how can you encourage your trees to produce more worms? What if you don’t have any worms, what can you do?

Our guest, Brian Anderson, is an expert on catalpa trees and catalpa worms, and we all learned so much from him.

Listen, Learn and Enjoy.

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On this episode we discuss new and used tractors with seasoned mechanic Clay Davis who runs the Gamekeeper Garage. Clay spends his days keeping everything running and has learned a lot through the years. From hooking up attachments, horsepower needs, which transmission type is best to work to look for in a used tractor, we ask a lot of questions. 

Listen, Learn and Enjoy. 

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On this episode we’re joined by Dr. James Martin of UGA to discuss northern bobwhite quail and much more. James is an interesting guy who loves the old ways and clings to them. Whether its following a brace of dogs or sitting down to a gobbling turkey, James clearly loves the sport and respects the traditions. We discuss the past, present and future of the Gentleman Bob and much more.  Turns out all this effort to help wild turkeys could be benefiting the wild quail also.

Listen, Learn and Enjoy. 

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On this episode we discuss scouting and game camera tips. Our weekends are precious, and knowledge from careful scouting can reveal so much.  There is an art to camera placement and getting the best informative pictures that can help you unlock what’s happening on your hunting area. Our friends at Moultrie are changing the game with technology and we are here for it. 

Listen, Learn and Enjoy. 

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This week we’re joined by former Major League Baseball All-Star and Gamekeeper Adam Wainwright. Adam played 18 seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals, winning a World Series in the process. During those years he never strayed from his love of deer hunting and in fact the Drury’s during his time there lit a fire in him to manage a property! After retiring from MLB Adam moved back to his home state of Georgia and purchased a rough 1600 acre property that was truly a blank slate and is in the process of turning it into a wildlife haven. It’s an i...

On this episode we’re joined by Kurt Colgrove and Justin Ballard of Paragon Aerial Solutions. These guys are using drones to do wildlife surveys (think deer, turkeys, pigs and even coyotes), but they are actually kicking your typical drone survey up a few notches. We’re all familiar with doing annual deer censuses with trail cameras, but these guys have determined a way to have instant data. Its impressive. 

We talk about what all they have learned that could benefit a Gamekeeper. We also discuss the ethics and legal issues around drone usage.  

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On this episode we’re joined by Dr. Jay Shelton of UGA to discuss pond management and especially aquatic weed problems. Jay is an obsessed fisherman and extremely knowledgeable  about pond weeds and how to control them. Is there anything more frustrating when owning a pond than having weeds that prevent you from being able to fish it? We talk about construction, permits, revamping old ponds, chemicals, how to apply, grass carp and how these crazy weeds get into ponds. It’s a great conversation and if you have a pond or just enjoy fishing, you’ll benefit from his yea...

On this episode we’re joined by two renowned birding enthusiasts to tell the story and help unwrap the mystery of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis).  Chuck Hunter is retired from the USFWS and spent his career working on endangered and threatened, at-risk, and other species of conservation concern throughout the Southeast Region.  Bobby Harrison, a noted birding expert has quite a history with the Ivory-billed. He frequently goes on searching expeditions, has reported several sightings and tells us about an encounter. The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is a complicated story, wrought with equal doses of doubt and hope, but it’s one...

On this episode we’re joined by two experts, John Doresky and Will McDearman, to explain the story of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker.  John is the current USFWS Recovery Coordinator and Will, now retired, was the previous coordinator.  Both men have spent most of their careers studying these birds and have interesting information to share. The RCW is a small woodpecker that used to be abundant in the longleaf pine ecosystems, but has had challenges as most of their habitat has changed. The story of how man-made cavities have helped save the birds is a really good one. You’ll never...

On this episode we’re joined by Orin Robinson of Cornell University to discuss the modern methods of monitoring birds and especially waterfowl. Orin is a Senior Research Associate in the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and has traveled the world studying birds. His love is waterfowl and he explains eBird and Merlin to us. It’s a fascinating discussion with a scientist that has amazing insight into the modern methods of studying of waterfowl and terrestrial birds. The future is here and we can all be citizen scientists and help. 

Listen, Learn and Enjoy. 

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On this very timely episode guests Dr. Scott Stephens and Dr. Mike Brasher of Ducks Unlimited explain some changes that are being considered to the Prairie Pothole region’s wetlands. These wetlands were voluntarily placed into waterfowl friendly easements through our duck stamp purchases, and the USFWS is asking for comments concerning possible changes that can affect these wetland ecosystems and their ability to house nesting ducks and other waterfowl. The two scientists explain what’s going on and ask listeners to comment. If you love ducks, duck hunting and wetlands, give this one a listen asap. 

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On this episode we’re joined by Mark Drury to discuss getting ready for the white-tailed deer season. Mark always has interesting insight and wisdom when it comes to whitetails. We talk camera placement, licking branches, the moon, bachelor groups, planting near native bedding areas and how keeping historical data on bucks leads to success. 

Listen, Learn and Enjoy. 

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On this episode we’re joined by Rafe Nielsen of Browning to learn about the mysterious 16-gauge. It’s a great sized shotgun and many people swear by them but the 16 didn’t stay popular for many reasons. Why didn’t it take off? Is it still used much today? What sub-gauges are hunters currently choosing? We also learned some facts about Browning and also got some tips for introducing kids. It’s a fun show.

Listen, Learn and Enjoy. 

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On this episode were joined by the great minds of Bronson Strickland and Bonner Powell of Wildlife Investments.  We talk about an often overlooked area on hunting properties, old fields. We learn what’s the best strategy, techniques and ways to add value to your wildlife by managing these areas with intention. It’s a process that can yield great results and doesn’t cost as much as other projects. This one is really informative. 

Listen, Learn and Enjoy.

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On this episode we’re joined by Bob Brzuszek  and Tim Schauwecker. Bob’s “retired” and Tim still teaches at the Mississippi State School of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design.  These guys are buddies and LOVE native plants and utilize them where ever possible. It’s a fascinating discussion about what the past landscape looked like and it gives us insight into making habitat decisions, both in our yards and out in the country, for today and the future.  Understanding the role of native plants and how to give them the best chance for success was a very enlightening discussion. <...

On this episode we’re joined by Ben, Hunter and Cole Mears. They are a father and sons taxidermy team that’s winning national awards and producing artistic forms to help other taxidermists. Beyond that that are serious Gamekeepers and Ben tells the story of transforming his 700 acre property to be a sanctuary for turkeys. He went from the same three hens to twenty five gobblers in just a few years. What did he do? We were amazed and inspired by his story. Learn about what to do to prepare your ducks, turkeys and deer for mounting and a grea...

On this episode, we are joined by two serious rattlesnake hunters from Texas, Dennis Cumbie and Mark Meneses. These men participate in the annual Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup, helping capture between 5,000 and 20,000 pounds of western diamondback rattlesnakes each spring.

It's a fascinating process in which the snakes are milked for their venom, which is used by pharmaceutical companies to produce antivenom. We discuss how and why they do this and hear some incredible stories along the way.

Listen, Learn, and Enjoy.

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On this episode we’re joined by rabid duck hunter James Callicut to discuss waterfowl and managing for them. James is a certified wildlife biologist and is the Mississippi State Waterfowl and Upland Bird specialist and has some very interesting insight. Not seeing as many mallards as you have in years past? James speaks to the problem as well as some insight into how to manage hunting pressure to increase your productivity. There is a lot of good waterfowl info in this one. 

Listen, Learn and Enjoy.

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On this episode we’re joined by Brynn Parr, a research biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game and she tells the conservation story of the Muskox. Admittedly, Muskox probably aren’t high on most people’s list of animals to learn about or even hunt, but their story is downright amazing. Most people don’t know that they were extirpated in Alaska by the 1920’s. In the 1930’s some forward thinking conservation minded folks got together and hatched a plan to bring them back. Purchasing captured animals in Greenland, they then had to be transported to the USA, quarant...

This week we’re joined by avid California hunter Parrey Cremeans as he tells a wild story about a turkey hunt in Mexico that will frazzle your nerves. It’s a story that doesn’t reflect the vast majority of hunting trips south of the border, but certainly happened to him on this fateful day. We also learned a lot about hunting turkeys and elk in the Golden State.

 Listen, Learn Enjoy.

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On this episode we’re joined by Macy Ledbetter, a well-informed top flight biologist in Texas who’s monitoring the New World Screw Worm situation in Texas with maximum urgency. It’s a red hot topic in South Texas and many southern gamekeepers are paying attention to the outbreak. The screw worm and it’s near eradication is a captivating story and tribute to science. The fact that it has fought its way back has ranchers/hunters/gamekeepers concerned, and for good reason. Macy does an eloquent job explaining it all. WE salute the agencies that are fighting around the cloc...

This week, we are joined by John Byrd of Mississippi State University to discuss the highly invasive cogongrass and other troublesome weeds that create challenges for farmers, landowners, and gamekeepers alike. John is a true weed scientist who dedicates his time to helping farmers and gamekeepers combat these issues to protect crops, wildlife habitat, and the land they manage.

We all learned a lot from this conversation, and we believe it's a must-listen for anyone looking to improve their land management practices and habitat.

Listen, Learn, and Enjoy.

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In this special Father’s Day episode, we share some heartfelt stories about the fathers who shaped our lives. We asked members of the Mossy Oak team to reflect on their dads and the memories that still mean the most to them, and the responses were incredible.

From life lessons learned in the woods to moments that still bring a smile years later, these stories remind us of the lasting impact fathers have on who we become. We enjoyed putting this episode together so much that we plan to make it an annual tradition.

We ho...

This week we are joined by native plant specialist Kyle Lybarger and Cahaba Riverkeeper David Butler and we learn about a really unique and special plant. The Cahaba River Lilies bloom each spring and attract world wide attention. Once upon a time, many southern rivers had these lilies blooming on their shoals in the spring. Today only a few places still have them.  These delicate white blooms create a sea of white along the shoals of the Cahaba River in their remaining places. Why? Because of mans influence the rivers and water levels have changed dramatically and eliminated the h...

On this episode, we are joined by David Faubion, editor of Guns & Ammo Special Interest Publications, to discuss calibers, trending rifles, and bullet preferences. Dave has lots of real-world experience and shares with us what he has learned over the years. He kicks off the podcast with a great story about calling in a big alpha male wolf in the Idaho wilderness this spring. It's a fun and informative episode.

Listen, Learn, and Enjoy.

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On this episode we are joined by Dr. Ashley Dumas again and she explains the fascinating story of when Hernando de Soto's expedition met the Mobilian people in October 1540 at the Battle of Mabila in present-day Alabama. This violent clash—triggered by a hostage standoff with Chief Tuskaloosa—led to the destruction of the palisaded town and remains one of the largest, bloodiest battles fought on North American soil. As Gamekeepers, we love the land and this story intertwines over much of the South. Their survival and dependence on wildlife speaks to the abundance that was once here...

On this episode with talk with New York Times best selling author, Monte Burke, who is very interested in studying and sharing the persona of fishermen who will do just about anything to be at the top of their game. His books Lords of the Flies and Sowbelly dive into the interesting cast of characters of chasing world record tarpon and the extreme efforts on going to catch the world record largemouth bass. Monte is a great conversationalist and his stories are even better. This one might surprise you.

 Listen, Learn and Enjoy.

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On this episode we’re joined by Dr. Ashley Dumas, the Professor of Anthropology at the University of West Alabama. We are all fascinated by the Native American artifacts we often find on our hunting properties and hearing how they thrived in the wilderness. How did they hunt, forage, fish, make tools, set up villages and camps? Dr. Dumas explains fascinating aspects of the culture of the Native Americas. 

Listen, Learn and Enjoy.

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On this episode we catch up with Kevin VanDam, one of our favorite Gamekeepers, to learn about his turkey season and what work he is doing for the upcoming deer season. Kevin is a fervent outdoorsman and loves improving his farm for wildlife. Apparently, what he is doing is working and we all can learn from his success as well as his trial and errors. It’s all about deer and turkeys.

Listen, Learn and Enjoy.  

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On this episode we’re joined by Johnny Wilson, PhD, of Central Life Sciences to explain the invasive red and black imported fire ants (Genus Solenopsis). In the South these tiny ants are everywhere, and we wondered if and how they impact the wildlife we so dearly love.  The short answer is YES, they do! We wanted to learn about how they got here, how they operate, how to deal with them and can we control or at least suppress them without harming birds, reptiles, mammals and even other beneficial insects. We learned a lot and what we gleaned can...

On this episode we’re joined by two scientists from the US Geological Survey and we discuss the precipitous decline of many wild birds across America. Dr. Jeff Hostetler and David Ziolkowski explain the USGS breeding bird survey process and the data that’s been collected for almost 60 years on the many wild birds species we all seem to take for granted. It’s shocking to learn of the big decline in many of them. It’s an interesting and insightful, yet alarming discussion.  

Listen, Learn and Enjoy.

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This week we play part two of our conversation with the legendary women's basketball Coach Vic  Schaefer.  It’s the powerful story of his sons accident and his road to recovery. He talks and we listen. In fact, the story is so powerful we decided to not insert commercials to prevent interrupting this meaningful and often tearful telling of a very trying time in his family. You’ll be moved. 

Listen, Learn and Enjoy. 

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On this episode we talk about hunting bullfrogs with Danny Moreland. Danny is an avid hunter and owns TigerBack Lodge in Arkansas and chases bullfrogs with a passion. Frog gigging has long been a part of rural lifestyle and each state has its own rules. It’s interesting to hear how it’s done and oh by the way,  the legs are delicious. Danny is also an excellent cook and prepares 100 legs for us to eat prior to recording. 

Listen, Learn and Enjoy. 

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This week we are joined by legendary Coach Vic Schaefer. Considered to be one of the best collegiate women’s basketball coaches of all time, Coach is also a rabid turkey hunter and fisherman. He has produced national title contending basketball teams at Mississippi State and now Texas. He joins us in person to tell sports stories, hunting and fishing stories and explains how the outdoors helps him relax. It’s a fun podcast. 

Listen, Learn and Enjoy.    

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On this episode we are joined by Jordy Veillon of Louisiana to explain crawfish farming. Crawfish boils are a spring/summer tradition across the South that is gaining popularity elsewhere. But do you know the whole process of raising them from seed to the boiling pot? Jordy is pure Cajun and entertains the group with his wit while explaining the whole process of raising crawfish to sell.  We ask questions from feeding ducks to largemouth bass, and finally how to best cook and eat mudbugs. It’s a fun one with many laughs. 

Listen, Learn and Enjoy. 

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On this episode we’re joined by Dr. Ned Miller in studio to explain snake bites and provide a road map of what to do plus what to expect.  Ned is a serious hunter himself and understands the scenarios a hunter/fisherman could find themselves facing.  Gamekeepers working on a property face many chances to encounter venomous snakes and stinging insects, and everyone needs to have a plan. Dr. Ned explains it all. 

Listen, Learn and Enjoy. 

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On this episode we’re joined by Dr. Guy Harvey. Most folks will recognize the name from his amazingly detailed artwork that beautifies everything from tee shirts to murals all over the world. But his story is one of a love for fishing, the salt water fisheries and dedicating his life to understanding and conserving the oceans and its resources. Much of his understanding of fish and fishing was learned underwater with cameras in hand. It’s a fascinating discussion with a man who’s story is interesting and salty. 

Listen, Learn and Enjoy. 

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On this episode we are joined by frequent guest and wild turkey researcher Dr. Marcus Lashley. Fresh from a Mississippi turkey hunt, he sits down and we discuss the latest research findings from his captive poult research project at the University of Florida. The birds are 11 months old now and he and his team have learned so much. Its an interesting discussion. 

Listen, Learn, Enjoy. 

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This week we’re joined by Mr. Allen Jenkins who spent his decades owning Lynch calls and turkey hunting. Mr. Jenkins is tells the story of how he first met M.L. Lynch and how their lives intertwined around a love of turkeys. He is a great story teller and we enjoyed each one he told. It’s a walk back in time and a chance to meet a very private person that’s had a big impact on the sport of turkey hunting. 

Listen, Learn, Enjoy. 

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On this episode we are joined by Dr. Bronson Strickland and Mitt Wardlaw of Wildlife Investments to discuss the highly intriguing and somewhat mysterious warm season annual American Joint Vetch. It’s commonly referred to as Deer Vetch, or its proper name is Aeschynomene. Whatever you call it, it’s a fantastic deer forage that tolerates heavy browsing like a champ.  

We learn that it fills a late summer gap, where to plant it, how to plant it and what to expect. Vetch sounds like the answer to a high deer density and smaller food plots. It’s a fas...